NGEx Minerals Reports Q1 2020 Results

May 21, 2020

VANCOUVER, May 21, 2020 /CNW/ - NGEX Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: NGEX) ("NGEx Minerals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its results for the three months ended March 31, 2020. View PDF.

FIRST QUARTER 2020 HIGHLIGHTS AND OUTLOOK

Valle Ancho – Successful Completion of First Field Campaign

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company successfully completed its first exploration campaign at the recently optioned Valle Ancho Project, located on the Argentine side of Chile's prolific Maricunga Gold Belt, in the Province of Catamarca. Despite having concluded the field program earlier than initially planned, as a result of the growing COVID-19 pandemic and its arrival in Argentina, the Company achieved its operating objectives for the season, which included review and compilation of historical data, analysis of satellite imagery, field examination, surface sampling and mapping of existing prospects, and the undertaking of an airborne geophysical survey over the project area to identify, develop and prioritize targets for further evaluation and potential drill testing.

Analysis and interpretation of results from the sampling and airborne surveys undertaken during the 2019/2020 field season are currently ongoing.

COVID-19 Response Update

To maintain the health and safety of the Company's employees, contractors, visitors, and stakeholders, NGEx Minerals continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic within the framework of internal protocols, and local and national health authority requirements and recommendations, which includes travel restrictions, surveillance and monitoring at its project facilities and offices. In addition, as part of its response to COVID-19 and the global economic downturn that followed, the Company has implemented immediate cost saving measures, including cuts to discretionary expenditures and voluntary reductions to senior management salaries, ranging from approximately 10-30%, for the duration of the crisis.

Nonetheless, the Company has recently increased its business development efforts, which are directed towards identifying new projects for potential acquisition. This is expected to be a significant focus for the Company going forward, as the Company seeks to capitalize on opportunities resulting from the ongoing COVID-19-related economic turmoil.

Wojtek Wodzicki, President and CEO, commented, "In light of the deterioration of global financial markets, which followed in the wake of the worldwide health crisis, we have taken immediate measures to preserve our treasury in preparation for what may be tough times ahead for the junior resource sector. Of course, we are optimistic that markets will recover quickly and soon, however, out of abundant caution we have made reductions to discretionary expenditures going forward and our senior management team in both Canada and Argentina have taken voluntary salary cuts.

That being said, the silver lining is that with challenges come opportunities, and we have stepped up our business development efforts accordingly. Namely, we have been reviewing projects and assets for potential acquisition, and are looking forward to bolstering NGEx Minerals' exploration portfolio with smart and opportune acquisition of new projects."

FINANCIAL RESULTS

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)

Three months ended

December 31,

2020

2019

Exploration and project investigation

1,867

1,353

General and administration ("G&A")

405

303

Net loss

2,070

1,650

Basic and diluted loss per share

0.02

0.01

The financial information in this table was selected from the Company's condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020 (the "Financial Statements"), which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company's website www.ngexminerals.com.

SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

March 31,

December 31,

2020

2019

Cash

3,485

5,559

Working capital

3,292

5,321

Mineral properties

4,720

4,765

Total assets

8,780

10,840

The financial information in this table was selected from the Financial Statements, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company's website www.ngexminerals.com.

The Company incurred a net loss of $2.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020, comprised primarily of $1.9 million in exploration and project investigation costs and $0.4 million in G&A costs, which were partially offset by a gain of approximately $0.2 million resulting from the use of marketable securities for the purposes of facilitating intragroup funding transfers (the "Funding Gains"). For the comparative three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company reported a net loss of $1.7 million, consisting mainly of $1.4 million in exploration and project investigation costs and $0.3 million in G&A costs.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As at March 31, 2020, the Company had cash of $3.5 million and net working capital of $3.3 million, compared to cash of $5.6 million and net working capital of $5.3 million as at December 31, 2019. The decrease in the Company's cash and net working capital is due primarily to funds used in operations.

The Company plans to use the majority of its cash towards its key exploration projects in South America and general corporate activities.

ABOUT NGEX MINERALS

NGEx Minerals is a Lundin Group copper and gold exploration company based in Canada with projects in Chile and Argentina. NGEx Minerals holds the large-scale Los Helados copper-gold deposit, located in Chile's Region III, as well as other early-stage projects located in Argentina. NGEx Minerals is the majority partner and operator for the Los Helados Project, subject to a Joint Exploration Agreement with its joint exploration partner in Chile, Pan Pacific Copper Co., Ltd. NGEx Minerals is actively seeking to add to its portfolio of projects as part of its overall growth strategy. The Company is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "NGEx".

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

The information contained in this news release was accurate at the time of dissemination but may be superseded by subsequent news release(s). The Company is under no obligation nor does it intend to update or revise the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

QP AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Bob Carmichael, B.Sc., P.Eng., who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Carmichael is Vice President, Exploration for the Company.

On behalf of NGEX Minerals,

Wojtek Wodzicki, President and CEO

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein in the news release constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. Generally, this forward-looking information can frequently, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements regarding: the Company's ability to respond to or navigate, and/or methods by which it responds to or navigates, the COVID-19 pandemic; the expected timing, nature or usefulness of results related to the Company's recently completed field season; potential of identifying prospective targets at the Valle Ancho Project that warrant further evaluation and potential drill testing; the results and impact of future exploration at the Valle Ancho Project; assumptions and interpretations around historical exploration results obtained in regards to the Valle Ancho Project; the exploration potential of the Valle Ancho Property; assumptions and interpretations around the Valle Ancho Project's location relative to the Maricunga Gold Belt and the potential correlation with respect to prospectivity; the timing, amount and duration of reductions to discretionary expenditures and salaries; the materialization of opportunities for the Company to make acquisition of strategic assets; the ability of the Company to secure additional financing and/or the quantum and terms thereof; exploration and development plans and expenditures; the timing and nature of work undertaken to advance the Los Helados Project; the success of future exploration activities; potential for the discovery of new mineral deposits; ability to build shareholder value; expectations with regard to adding to Mineral Resources through exploration; ability to execute the planned work programs; estimation of commodity prices, Mineral Resources, estimations of costs, and permitting time lines; ability to obtain surface rights and property interests; currency exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation expenses; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage; and other risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. In addition, these statements involve assumptions made including that the current price of and demand for commodities will be sustained or will improve, the supply of commodities will remain stable, that the general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed on reasonable terms and that the Company will not experience any material labour dispute, accident, or failure of plant or equipment. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligations to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All the forward-looking information contained in this document is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers

Information concerning the mineral properties of the Company contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ in material respects from the requirements of securities laws of the United States applicable to U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.